The Impact of Global Climate Change on Mental Health Issues

Climate change refers to gradual changes in meteorological parameters like temperature, humidity, atmospheric composition etc. The effects of these phenomena may not be visible evidently on a day-to-day basis as the cause and effect are distinct in terms of space and time. Climate changes have been attributed to extreme weather conditions/events across the globe, leading to many health-related problems. Frequent extreme weather events also have direct and indirect consequences on mental health. Increasing ambient temperatures is likely to increase rates of aggression and violent suicides, while prolonged droughts due to climate change can lead to more number of farmer suicides. Droughts otherwise can lead to impaired mental health and stress. Increased frequency of disasters with climate change can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder, and depression. Changes in climate and global warming may require population to migrate, which can lead to acculturation stress. It can also lead to increased rates of physical illnesses, which secondarily would be associated with psychological distress. The possible effects of mitigation measures on mental health are also discussed. The paper concludes with a discussion of what can and should be done to tackle the expected mental health issues consequent to climate change.